Endless A Webcomic

So a few months ago I posted in Worldbuilding about writing a Mecha webcomic that was harder sci-fi kind of like Cowboy Bebop with very few necessary changes to reality. So I began writing awhile ago the outline of the story so I know what I am going to do and where everything goes.

I got the Prologue set up but I sadly got stuck on the first chapter and gained Writer's Block. May I ask for a little help?

Um, what exactly do you need help with?

Well I have begun character introduction and after that my brain just went kaput. I've had the characters discussing their histories and interests since they are going to be working together for a long time.

What's next on your outline? How can you get to there from where you (your characters) are?

Which scene are you most excited about writing? Maybe start from there and just fill the reader in later with a flashback.

Could you raise the stakes? Or introduce some sort of conflict?

edited 25th Feb '15 3:11:08 AM by Faemonic

My next outline is to get them on a trip to a new mission. Our main protagonist is a mech pilot so they have jobs to do. But I just don't know how to lead them up to that part.

The scene I was most excited for writing was the prologue which was a flashback. It was a assault on a spaceship with hundreds if not thousands of mechs pouring in and attacking to get sensitive info. Next on my most excited list is making the colony of Mars.

As for conflict, I already have revolutions, Terrorist attacks, and history returning planned.

The issue is I am not sure how to go about this.

Before I question you further on this matter, do you have an idea of what everyone's motivations are or what the core conflict behind the story is?

Yes. I have a idea of what the core motivations are. What they become. And what the main center of conflict is.

Excellent. Because this will help you with a direction. It sounds like you have alot of back story, which is good.

Though what I would suggest is making a goal for your character to reach. Now a "goal" is a very generic term, but just think of it as what your characters ultimate objective is. And like any objective, be it graduating college or destroying a galactic empire, it does have to come in steps.

Now this trip that your character is about to embark on. Is it an urgent one? Will he be in a meeting? If so, it'd be a great opportunity to explain situation and introduce your supporting cast.

For this first step in the story, I'd say to give them a simple task that'd let us know more about their character before moving them on to more complicated tasks. But that's me.

This guy gets it. Motivation should drive everything your characters do.

A question: what are your character's motivations in the opening scene? What are they trying to accomplish?

The opening scene what the characters are trying to accomplish is to prevent the invention of a radical change to mechanized warfare. Hence the full assault.

Okay, sure, that's the high-level motive, but how does that translate into actual, achievable goals?

Are they trying to destroy important files? Or capture/kill a weapons scientist? Or steal a super-powerful prototype mech?

What's their objective? What are they actually, physically doing to pursue their goal?

edited 24th Feb '15 5:15:04 PM by Tungsten74

This is only the flashback. They are trying to destroy all info and physical data about the weapon. They fail and our protagonist is left a little mentally scarred by the event.

Over a year later they are now a Auxiliary pilot just trying to make ends meet and try to move on from that event with little success. The story is partially them finding a new reason to live and move forward with life.

How about…

Impetus for mission shown by disposable NPC's or side characters that we'll never hear from again because they're only there to be nice until they die. These could be soldiers or diplomats, but whatever they were doing went wrong.

Cut to mission organizer, grieving over the event gone wrong and planning the next big mission that is important because of what had happened. Exposition.

Cut to Call to Adventure scenes with all the main characters getting a letter or a visit from a Herald. Alternatively, then this scene could be squished in with the scene previous, if the main character needs convincing then the exposition of the need for the new mission to be accomplished could do both exposition and moving the character/plot along (intercut mentions of the other main characters by the Herald.)

Cut to all the main characters together either re-training or ready for this mission that you need them to get to.

edited 25th Feb '15 3:22:38 AM by Faemonic

I do like the idea of a event gone wrong and the characters being called to action over it. It fits since humanity and space colonization has been incredibly uneasy.

I think I'll go with that. Thanks Faemonic.

If your characters have a clear goal, solid reasoning behind that goal, and clear consequences for if they fail, you should have everything you need to write the scene.

Just show the characters pursuing their goal, taking action to bring it closer to fruition. It's really that simple. Surely you can do that?

I should be able to do so.